INHABITAT: How long did the renovation take?

Marcia: It took about three months, but then it took a little longer for everything to be finalized.

INHABITAT: When you were thinking about the furniture, did you search for new items or rearrange what you had?

Marcia: I really tried to keep everything that I could keep but selectively got rid of some things. I got rid of some bigger vintage things that used to sit in the middle of the floor against the wall that took up a lot of wall space. We were just trying to get some things off the floor. That’s why we got these components that you can change around or move to another apartment. My couches and things like that were here. I just made slip covers to give it a little face lift.

INHABITAT: What were you looking for in terms of materials?

Marcia: I used good materials everywhere possible, but then also tried to find things that were within my budget. It’s kind of a mix; it’s a little high and low. The kitchen and the bathroom are IKEA innovations. IKEA’s pretty great because you can do things on a budget and it’s pretty clean and modern and useful. The counters are made from recycled glass.
I did invest in Energy Star appliances and the shelving units are really well designed and help elevate things creating an enhanced sense of space. If I ever move, I can even bring them with me and they can become completely different somewhere else.